COTTON USA Western Hemisphere Sourcing Fair Connects U.S. Mills with Retailers and Apparel Manufacturers

                                                    



The COTTON USA Western Hemisphere Sourcing Fair brought together nine U.S. mills, seven U.S. retailers, one European retailer, four Latin American retailers and 39 apparel manufacturing companies from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Peru. This was the second Sourcing Fair that took place in Colombia, in order to take advantage of the recent FTA between Colombia and United States.

Participating companies included: U.S. mills - Alamac American Knits, American Denimatrix, Antex Knitting Mills, Buhler Quality Yarns, Frontier Spinning Mills, Hamrick Mills Inc., Parkdale, Tuscarora Yarns and Zagis USA; Retailers - Cabela’s Inc., Casual Male, J. Jill, Lands’ End Inc., Nordstrom, Phillips-Van Heusen and Zumba Fitness (United States); Benetton Brazil (Europe); and Almacenes Paris, Falabella, La  Polar and Ripley (Latin America).

CCI held a dinner the first day to welcome more than 110 attendees to the Sourcing Fair. P. Michael McKinley, U.S. Ambassador to Bogotá, Colombia, gave the opening remarks. The Fair included a conference session with a panel of experts from Alston & Bird LLP, A.T. Kearney Inc., Cotton Incorporated and Yiyang Trading. The panel addressed important textile and apparel agreements for Latin America and Europe, the cotton price situation, and an outlook on Western Hemisphere textile, U.S. retail and apparel, and Latin American retail and apparel.

Following the seminar, the U.S. mills and retailers met with CBI, Mexican and Andean textile and apparel executives in private meetings to discuss business opportunities. Over a period of about 10 hours, 700 individual meetings took place. Cotton Incorporated also supported the event by answering questions about cotton product developments.


                                                          

COTTON USA Sourcing Program Holds Western Hemisphere Sourcing Fair

To strengthen sales of U.S. cotton yarns and fabrics to the region, the COTTON USA Sourcing Program brought together seven U.S. mills, 15 Latin American and European retailers, and 47 Andean, Central American and Mexican apparel manufacturers for a two-day Sourcing Fair in Lima, Peru. Attendees held private meetings to discuss business opportunities that would move U.S. cotton yarns and fabrics through the regional supply chain. Close to 700 individual meetings took place. The event included a conference session with a panel of experts who addressed textile and apparel trade issues such as an overview of textile and apparel agreements between Latin America and Europe; a review of the current cotton price situation; a discussion of Western Hemisphere textile and garment industry capabilities; and sourcing requirements for European brands & retailers. The event enabled overseas buyers to meet all segments of the Western Hemisphere supply chain in one location. This streamlined approach to sourcing reinforced existing business relationships and fostered new relationships between U.S. mills, their Latin American customers, and downstream buyers from their region and from Europe. The timing of the Sourcing Fair was excellent since European brands and retailers have recently gained interest in sourcing opportunities from Latin America as increased costs in Asia and political uncertainties in North Africa have strained usual supply channels. European and Latin American regional sourcing is positive for U.S. cotton and cotton yarn and fabric since goods sourced in the Western Hemisphere are a high percentage U.S. fiber.

COTTON USA Sourcing Program Featured at Apparel Sourcing Show 2011

Ten U.S. textile mills were showcased as part of the COTTON USA Sourcing Program in Guatemala City. U.S. mills were featured in the show's directory, on banners throughout the show and on bags given to each attendee. CCI also presented three fashion shows featuring garments from regional manufacturers using U.S. yarns and fabrics. Several local TV stations and newspapers covered the fashion shows. There were two private events; a presentation by Cotton Incorporated on factors affecting the cotton market, which was given to Korean textile and garment makers, as well as U.S. importers that have offices in Guatemala. The second event was a gathering in the COTTON USA Pavilion of approximately 100 representatives from companies in Central America and 10 U.S. companies.

Eight U.S. Cotton Producers Join COTTON USA Delegation to Latin America

In Honduras, the delegation met with leaders of that country's textile and apparel industry. Delegation members learned how the regional free trade agreement has helped the Central American industry grow as a textile and apparel sourcing origin, and as a market for U.S. cotton via yarn and textiles. The delegation toured Gildan's knitting and sewing plant near San Pedro Sula, where delegation members witnessed socks being knitted, processed and packaged with the COTTON USA trademark for distribution in the U.S. market.

The delegation's final stop was Lima, Peru, which gave members an opportunity to see the impact of various Andean Region trade agreements on the business complex and assess the future outlook for U.S. cotton and products in the region. The Peruvian Cotton Institute presented the current Peruvian cotton crop situation, research developments and outlook. To round out the visit, the delegation visited Topy Top S.A. and Compañía Industrial Nuevo Mundo S.A., two of the largest mills in the Andean Region.

CCI, Cotton Incorporated and the COTTON USA Sourcing Program Sponsor Western Hemisphere Sourcing Fair in Mexico

              

In pursuit of stronger business within the region, the COTTON USA Sourcing Program brought together 11 U.S. mills, ten uniform retailers, eight  fashion retailers and 44 apparel manufacturing companies from Mexico and the Andean and Central American regions for the Sourcing Fair. The event included a conference session with a panel of experts who addressed important textile and apparel trade issues such as: the cotton price situation, the relevance of sustainability for the textile industry and U.S. market outlook and trends. The conference benefited from presentations by Alston & Bird LLP, International Development Systems, Yiyang Trading LLC, Wakelyn Associates, LLC and the O'Rourke Group Partners. Following the seminar, participating U.S. mills and retailers met with CBI, Mexican and Andean textile and apparel executives in private meetings to discuss business opportunities. Some 700 individual meetings took place, resulting in an efficient and productive Sourcing Fair. Cotton Incorporated supported the event with a mini-stand, presenting cotton product developments.


                 

COTTON USA Sourcing Program Participates in the Apparel Sourcing Show

Nine U.S. textile mills were showcased as part of the COTTON USA Sourcing Program during the event in Guatemala City. U.S. mills were featured in the show's directory, displayed throughout the show and on bags given to each attendee. CCI presented five fashion shows at its stand featuring garments from regional manufacturers that source their yarns and fabrics from the U.S. Two private events took place, one with Korean textile and garment makers, in an effort to strengthen the relationships between U.S. mills and the important Korean business community in Central America. The second event included several key companies from Central America, and nine U.S. companies took part in the COTTON USA Pavilion: Antex Knitting Mills, Buhler Quality Yarns Corp.; Carolina Cotton Works, Inc.; Contempora Fabrics; Frontier Spinning Mills, Inc.; Hamrick Mills, Inc.; Parkdale; Tuscarora Yarns, Inc.; and Zagis USA.